The sky was blue, the sun was shining, a rolling blanket of clouds hid the ground below. By all accounts, it was a beautiful day. The path ahead appeared clear and bright. As the plane moved closer to the destination it began to descend deep into the clouds. Suddenly all clarity was gone. The sun was hidden and so was the earth. It became disorienting and a little bumpy. The passengers squirmed in their seats their knuckles white as they grabbed the arms of their chairs. Some gasped as the aircraft bounced through the clouds. Visibility was low and the ground was hidden and yet...
Ever had a day like that? Things are bright, the future seems clear when suddenly you drop into the clouds of uncertainty. You find yourself disoriented in a life that moments earlier had seemed perfectly predictable. The smooth ride becomes bumpy and the view of the future is obstructed by circumstances beyond your control. You cling to whatever you can to restore a sense of safety as your heart cries for security. It is impossible to determine what lies ahead and yet...
...the pilot was certain of the destination even though at the moment he could not see it. He relied on insight, skills, and knowledge to safely land the plane at just the right destination and in just the right time. He accessed resources the passengers of the plane lacked. He had faith in spite of his circumstances because he could hear the voice of an air controller in his ear, guiding him to safety. He saw the instruments on his panel that kept him from becoming disoriented. He might not be able to see where he was going but he knew where he would land. He stayed the course laid out by the traffic controller, studied his instruments, and soon ground appeared below and he safely touched down.
...we can be certain that what we cannot see is only temporarily hidden. Like the airplane pilot listens to the traffic controller, we can find safety in listening to the voice of God as He helps us safely maneuver the storms of life. We have access to the instruments of the Bible and prayer to help us keep our bearings. We may not know where we are going but we know where we will land. In time we will break through the clouds and once again see safety below.
“We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG)
It is a certainty that our lives will be a blend of good and bad times, sunshine and storms. How we navigate those storms is dependent upon our choices. Will we be passengers or will we be pilots? The passengers fly blindly through life, tossed by every trial. There is no voice to guide them, no instrument of hope to remind them they are secure. Pilots, on the other hand, remain focused on the voice that guides them and are able to navigate through the same storms with different levels of confidence.
Ever had a day like that? Things are bright, the future seems clear when suddenly you drop into the clouds of uncertainty. You find yourself disoriented in a life that moments earlier had seemed perfectly predictable. The smooth ride becomes bumpy and the view of the future is obstructed by circumstances beyond your control. You cling to whatever you can to restore a sense of safety as your heart cries for security. It is impossible to determine what lies ahead and yet...
...the pilot was certain of the destination even though at the moment he could not see it. He relied on insight, skills, and knowledge to safely land the plane at just the right destination and in just the right time. He accessed resources the passengers of the plane lacked. He had faith in spite of his circumstances because he could hear the voice of an air controller in his ear, guiding him to safety. He saw the instruments on his panel that kept him from becoming disoriented. He might not be able to see where he was going but he knew where he would land. He stayed the course laid out by the traffic controller, studied his instruments, and soon ground appeared below and he safely touched down.
...we can be certain that what we cannot see is only temporarily hidden. Like the airplane pilot listens to the traffic controller, we can find safety in listening to the voice of God as He helps us safely maneuver the storms of life. We have access to the instruments of the Bible and prayer to help us keep our bearings. We may not know where we are going but we know where we will land. In time we will break through the clouds and once again see safety below.
“We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG)
It is a certainty that our lives will be a blend of good and bad times, sunshine and storms. How we navigate those storms is dependent upon our choices. Will we be passengers or will we be pilots? The passengers fly blindly through life, tossed by every trial. There is no voice to guide them, no instrument of hope to remind them they are secure. Pilots, on the other hand, remain focused on the voice that guides them and are able to navigate through the same storms with different levels of confidence.
I don’t know where your journey is leading you this week. I hope that the path is clear and bright, but if it is not, I hope that you will be like the pilot. Listen for the voice that guides you, check your instruments (Bible and prayer) and trust that while the path may be bumpy you are being led towards a safe landing.
Nuisance Update:
Rodney and I will head to MD Anderson this week. I will meet for pre-op and labs on Wednesday, have the biopsy on Thursday, see my surgeon on Friday and head home. Please pray that the biopsy helps us have clarity on next steps. It will probably be 4-6 weeks before all the genetics are available. Honestly, I am at a bit of a loss on what to prayer for (besides miraculous healing, duh), but here is one of the verses I love: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 I am so grateful that when I am speechless the Holy Spirit intercedes for me. Wow, what a gift that is! I know he has a plan. I know he has a purpose.
I find great hope and comfort in that verse!
ReplyDeleteI choose pilot! Thanks for those wonderful words. You inspire so many with your bravery and your faith. I am praying for you and I do believe in miracles.
ReplyDeleteHugs ❤️- Patricia Z.
Prayers follow you from afar. Love you!
ReplyDeletePraying for safe travels, “easy” biopsy and clear answers for perfect treatment for you. We are just missing each other. I at MDACC right now waiting for scans and leaving Tuesday. Would have loved to meet you in person. Sending hugs
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Marissa. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4A B2 Thymoma in January of 2017. Finding your blog on MD Anderson's website has been so enlightening. You have given me hope and for that I just want to say thank you. My husband is 36 and we have 3 kids (the oldest is in Kindergarten). A little bit about my husband's journey. He had surgery back home in South Florida. Due to complications from surgery, he was in the hospital for 3 months. He had a really bad cough which is how the cancer was found to begin with. It got so bad that he could barely catch his breath which is why we went ahead with surgery back home before getting any other opinions. Then we went to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL where he had radiation treatment. This January, scans showed a recurrence. From there we decided we needed to go to MD Anderson. My husband needs to get a biopsy done and then once it's proven that the Thymoma is back, he will start chemotherapy. I am praying for you and your family. This journey is not easy, but your positivity is refreshing and again I can't thank you enough. Your story has helped me so much.
ReplyDelete